The Proposition 5: The Ferro Family by H.M. Ward Page A

you by.”
    She stiffens as I speak. “Are you threatening me?”
    I laugh out loud at the ridiculousness of her statement. She has no clue. I was referring to me and Bryan, to the constant pool of regret that fills my stomach. We could have been together, but that chance is lost now, time we’ll never have.
    “You’re so wrong about everything, sealed in your little bubble, out of touch with the real world. This isn’t your house, so you thought you were safe, but you’re never safe, not from time—not from death. Your nephew...” I swallow hard but don’t break eye contact. “Make sure his mother finds out. That’s all I want.”
    The assumption I’m making is massive—that Elizabeth Ferro will care whether her son lives or dies. Bryan hasn’t told anyone about his illness except me. Jon can see it, but the others have no clue. I don’t know how long Bryan has left, but I don’t want him to spend it worrying or fighting. I want to be there to protect him and, by alerting the Ferros to his condition, I probably just made that harder to accomplish—but it’s the right thing to do. If I had an extra second to spend with my dad… The thought lurks in my mind, sunrise to sunset. When night washes the sky with purple hues of ink and speckles of sparkling amber, I wish I had one more opportunity to say all the things I never had the chance to voice. Now, those thoughts are trapped within my soul, holding me captive. I’ll never be free. I never had the chance to say good-bye. I’m giving the Ferros that chance and hoping beyond hope that they don’t toss me out on my ass in reward.
    Shoving aside my thoughts, I put my empty cup down and walk out, leaving Constance and her lover gaping in my wake. The two women behind me are children playing house. I may be younger than them in years, but my soul feels ancient. It’s juvenile to think your life is only about you. Life is about the people around you. How I wish I never grew up, but wishing is time wasted and I refuse to fritter away another second.

Chapter 2
    Maggie and I plan via text to meet at a bagel place just after sunrise. The only cars in the parking lot are by the store. The rest of the shopping center is still closed. I haven’t been waiting long when she joins me at the end of the line.
    “Hey,” Maggie says, wrapping me in a hug.
    I hug her back, holding her a second too long. She’s going to dart again. I know it. She doesn’t handle death well. I suppose no one does, but Maggie’s seen too much of it. When I release her, I force myself to forgive her in advance. A soul can only take so much abuse before it can’t help but react. It’s like Pavlov’s dog. The death bell rings and Maggie runs.
    I tuck a piece of hair behind my ear and lean against the glass storefront, before shoving my hands in my pockets. “Hey. How’ve you been?”
    The line wraps out the door and down the front of the shopping center with people who’ve stopped for a bagel and coffee on their way to work. The line inches closer to the food and we move with it, before resuming positions against the glass. My stomach rumbles at the smell of yeast, and I can’t wait to taste the soft, warm bread and bite into it, savoring the thick cream cheese. I’ve learned not to take little things for granted. Bagels help me find my happy place.
    I plan to grab one for Bryan too—poppy seeds with butter—just like he ordered in high school. We came here so many times. I stare out at the parking lot, my mind wandering into a memory of Bryan lifting me into a shopping cart and pushing me like a lunatic into the grocery store, laughing the whole time.
    Another customer had asked, “What aisle did you find her on? I want one!”
    Bryan just smiled, his eyes sliding over me in the cart. “Sorry, man. This was the only one and she’s all mine. I’ll never let her go.” The memory echoes sharply in my ears. It feels like it could have happened yesterday.
    Maggie’s voice snaps